Gas-regulator



(No Model.)

J. A. LYON.

GAS REGULATOR;

No. 360,389.. I Patented Mar. 29; 1887.

WITNESSES: lA/VE/VTOI? ATTORNEY S N PETERS. Fhom-mhu m har. Washington. 0.6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. LYON,

OF GLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO \VILLIAM A. HOEVELER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-REGULATQR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,389, dated March 29, 1887.

Application filed September 12, 1886. Serial No. 4,939. (N model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. LYON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olarksville, in the county of Montgomery and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Regulators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to theaccompanying draw- [0 ings, which form part of this specification.

This invention has relation to gas-pressure regulators of that class in which a rotary valve or cock interposed in the line of a gas conduit or main is adapted to automatically be opened or closed wholly or partially, according to the pressure of the gas on one side, so as to preserve uniformity in the flow of gas through the valve passage-way and maintain a low degree of pressure on the other side of the valve.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel construction and mode of operation in automatic gas-regulators, wherein the devices employed shall be simple in construction, effective in action, sufficiently sensitive to 2 5 respond to rapid fluctuations in the pressure of the gas with certainty and delicacy, and wherein leakage is practically avoided and the usual imperfections and liability to disarrangement in general obviated.

The invention consists in the method and appliances hereinafter described, whereby the pressure of the gas on a column of mercury or other fluid inclosed in an air-tight and counterbalanced wheel or equivalent device con- 3 5 nected with the gas-cock is utilized, so that as the relations of the mercury or fluid to the weight and center of gravity is changed by the rising and falling of the former the wheel will be caused to turn and the cock to approach a closed or open position, according to the conditions of pressure.

My invention is susceptible of being carried into effect in a variety of ways; but I will de scribe the construction which I consider most 4 5 convenient and practicable,without, however,

limiting myself to the special forms or arrangement therein embodied.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my improvements, Figure 1 is a vertical seeso tional View of a regulator cons1st1ng,essensection of the same.

tially, of a wheel having a tubular or hollow rim or tire. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse Figs. 3 and at are sectional views showing the regulator in different positions. Fig. 5 is a horizontal central section through the regulator and valve or cock and illustrates a modification. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of modified construction of wheel.

A A designate two sections of a gaseouduit coupled together by a valve-chamber or sleeve, B, containing a rotary valve of the usual tapering-plug form, as shown at C, and having the passage-way D. Any other suitable form of valve may be employed, but the construction described is sufiicient for illus tration. The stem (7 of the plug projects horizontally, (or, if desired, the plug is arranged vertically and is geared or coupled to a horizontal shaft,) and has fitted to it the hub of the regulator-wheel E. The latter for effective operation is several feet in diameter. In practice, I find that within convenient limits the larger the wheel the more sensitive it is.

The rim or tire of the wheel E is hollow or tubular and either round or otherwise in crosssection, and at a point above its axis the cavity or chamber is divided by a partition, 0.

From one side of the cock-via, the conduit-section, through which the flow of gas isat low pressure-a small flexible tube, 9, leads to the hollow rim of the wheel and forms an inlet thereto forgas from the conduit. A small tube, 9, provided with a cock, rfi, is fitted to the wheel and used in supplying the same with S5 mercury or other fluid.

A designates a weight secured to the rim of the wheel in such position that it will tend to fall on one side of the axis and turn thewheel.

The wheel E is al outha1f-filled with mer- 9o cury, as shown at E, and in its normal posi tion, as when there is no pressure of gas, the level of the mercury on both sides of the axis is coincident with the latter. The weight A is then at its lowest point of descent, as shown in Fig. 3, and the gas cock or valve in the main is closed. If, now, the gas be turned on or allowed to flow through the main, it will enter the rim of the regulator-wheel through the tube 7 on one side of-the partition 0, and, pressing I00 on one side of the column of mercury or fluid, will force the latter to the left and cause it to rise on the left side of the wheel. The center of gravity will thus be altered and the weight, overbalanced by the rise of the mercury on one side, will itself be raised on the opposite side by the turning of the wheel, it being necessary, however, to first disengage the lever D from contact with the stop 0 by hand. The wheel being thus turned, the valve will be opened more or less, according to the degree of pressure, allowing the gas to flow through its passage-way. Assuming, then, that the conditions are as shown in Fig. 1, the weight A on one side above the axis of the wheel and the body of mercury elevated on the opposite side balancing each other, so that the wheel remains stationary so long as the pressure is uniform. The valve is now Wide open and the flow ofgas unobstructed. The pressureis, however, approximately at its minimum. If, now, the pressure of the gas increases, the column of mercury will at once rise higher and the weight will be correspondingly raised, the wheel be ing thereby turned and the valve partially closed, the flow through the valve-passage being at higher pressure than before, but the quantity reduced. Should the pressure diminish, the column at mercury rises to the right and the weight descends, thus further opening the valve, so that the flow of gas will be increased to compensate for the reduction of pressure. When the wheel comes to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the valve is fully opened, the motion of the wheel should be arrested by a catch, as shown at 0. Otherwise, as the pressure decreases, the mercuryin the wheel will seek its level, falling on the side no and rising on the side y. Then the weight will overbalance its side of the wheel and swing down, as in Fig. 3, thus closing the valve prematurely. Now, should the pressure in the main fail entirely, it is desirable to have the regulator close the valve to prevent accidents. This can be accomplished as follows: Let the catch 0 rest upon the end of a weighted lever, D, which can tip down into the position shown in Fig.

2 by dotted lines; but it is prevented from moving in the opposite direction by the stop B. This lever can be easily adjusted, so that it will be over-balanced by the weightot'the wheel when there is no gas-pressure in the hollow rim and the mercury stands at the same level at m and y, for then the weight bears down with its full force.

Now, to trace the action of the regulator more explicitly: Ordinarily, when a fair pressure of gas is on the mains, the regulator-wheel stands about as shown in Fig. 4 and the valve is partially closed. Now, if the pressure falls in the main, then the wheel moves around to the position shown in Fig. 1, with valve wide open. Pressure in the main now falls lower and lower, wheel bears more and more heavily on the lever D, but valve still remains wide open. So soon as pressure fails altogether and the mercury on both sides of the wheel comes to the same level, taking away the excess of weight on side at, the weight A overbalances the weight h on lever D and the wheel swings into position, (shown in Fig. 3,) closing the valve, which can then be readjusted only by hand.

It is desirable that the wheel should be limited inits movements between fixed points, so that the weight A will move only between,

'say, 8 and 9, and just shut the valve above and below when it reaches these points and not allow it to swing too far. This is effectually accomplished by the stud i on the wheel coming in contact with the fixed stops v3 2".

Fig. 5 shows a modification within the spirit of my invention, in which the hub and one of the spokes of the wheel have a gas-channel leading into the hollow rim and communicating with a passage in the valve leading to the main. These channels or passages are substitutes for the flexible tube 9 and serve the same purpose.

Having described my invention, what I desire to claim, and secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In an automatic gas-regulator comprising a chambered wheel coupled to the valve and containing a fluid subject to gas pressure, counterbalanced by a weight, the combination, with said wheel and weight and the valve to which said wheel is coupled, of stops to limit the movement of the latter-between fixed points.

2. In an automatic gas-regulator, the combination, with a chambered wheel containing a fluid subject to pressure, and provided with a counterbalanceweight, of a cock or valve to which said wheel is coupled, a stop or stud, c, and a weighted lever, D, whereby the pre mature closing of the valve is prevented.

3. Inan automatic gas-regulator, the combination, with a wheel provided with a counterbalance-weight, and having a hollow rim or chamber containing mercury or other fluid subject to the pressure of the gas, of a weighted lever, D, and a suitable stop, R, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of September, 1886.

JAMES A. LYON.

\Vitnesses:

A. H. MUNFORD, E1). S. MUNFORD. 

